Filing cabinet construction



Aug. 27, 1957 w. BELEW FILING CABINET CONSTRUCTION 4 3 Sheds-Sheet lFIG./

Filed Feb. 1'7, 195

INVENTOR LELAND W. BELEW Aug. 27, 1957 Filed Feb. 17, 1956 1.. w. BELEW2,804,364

FILING CABINET CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LELAND K. BELEW BY5W5 SW ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1957 w. BELEW 2,804,364

FILING CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r /8I36 I30 M0 /42 FIG. 6

INVENTOR LELAND K. BELEW BY 5W & 5mm

ATTORNEYS nite States Patent fiiee 2,804,364 a t Patented Aug. 27, 1957Fume CABINET CONSTRUCTION Leland W. Bclew, Hamilton, Ohio ApplicationFebruary 17, 1956, Serial No. 566,171

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-217) The present invention relates broadly to filingcabinets of the type comprising a plurality of drawer sections arrangedin superimposed relation, and wherein the individual drawers areprovided with individual locking mechanisms collectively under thecontrol of a-single master lock. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to burglar-proof and fire proof filing cabinets andrepresents improvements on the structures disclosed in the copendingapplications of Harvey L. Henkle, Serial No. 435,306, filed June 8,1954, and Harvey L. Henkle et al., Serial No. 532,253, filed September2, 1955, both for security files and relating to burglary-proof andfireproof cabinets and comprising improvements in reinforcements ofcertain critical areas of cabinet drawers, and both owned by theassignee of the present application.

While more specifically related to burglar-proof and fire-proof filingcabinets, the present construction embodying a safety latch mechanism isadapted for use with any type of file.

In security files of the type contemplated in the abovementionedcopending applications, certain critical areas of the cabinet casing anddrawer fronts are provided with reinforcements so arranged with respectto the various components of the locking mechanisms as to afford maximumprotection against surreptitious entry in the event an attack be madeupon the locking mechanism of the file. This fact also plays animportant part in the arrangement of the various mechanisms of thepresent invention.

File cabinets of the type in question are generally provided with ganglock mechanisms, located just inside the front faces of the drawers,each mechanism being equipped with an individual control knob or handle,whereby locking bolts are projected or retracted with respect tocomplementary locking recesses located in the front portion in thecabinet shelf adjacent the drawer fronts. The individual mechanisms areunder the common control of a combination lock usually located in thefront of the top drawer of the series.

In such previously known constructions, means have been provided in thenature of an automatic bolt catch assembly which prevents the throwingof the lock bolt so long as the drawer is in open position, and thecatch being automatically released upon the closing of the drawer. Alsoone of the objects of the previous constructions was to includemechanism which rendered it impossible to lock the top drawer unlessevery drawer below had been closed, and additionally safety features toprevent unauthorized entry-after alock mechanism had been forcedinwardly by apunch or the like.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a safetylatch mechanism in files of the foregoing nature which will insure thatthe top drawer of a vertical file cabinet cannot be locked unless all ofthe drawers therebeneath are in closed and locked position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanismarranged in thefront face of the drawers,

atop the inner compartment of each drawer, to prevent movement of thegang lock plunger downwardly while any one of a series of drawers isopen.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro vide a safetylatch mechanism incorporating means for preventing shearing of the ganglock plunger due to its extending downwardly into the path of a drawerhead when a drawer is pulled out and an attempt is made to close thesame.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such asafety latch mechanism which prevents a plunger from extending when adrawer below the top drawer in a vertical file is pulled out, and whichmechanism is actuated by the rear face of the drawer head but whereinthe major portion of the mechanism are preferably located at the leftside of a compartment of the drawer and through various transmissionelements serve to transmit the rearward force to efiect a translation ofa bolt rearwardly as the drawer is closed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a safetylatch mechanism of the nature described wherein the essential elementsof force transmission are located on the left side of the compartment ofeach drawer, in view of the normal location of a plunger assemblyslightly offset left of center of the drawer of the cabinet, and forsimplication of assembly since the elements of the present invention canbe assembled after the compartment has been substantially fullyconstructed.

An additional and important object of the present invention is toprovide a safety latch mechanism of a simple and sturdy nature, andwhich can substantially be constructed and preset before attaching tothe file construction.

, With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel featuresherein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in which numerals of like characterdesignate similar parts throughout the ing details of the safetylatching mechanism;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through a file shelf showing thesafety latching mechanism and with a drawer fragmentarily shown 'in openposition; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the drawer in closedposition.

In the drawings, 10 generally represents a sectional file cabinet whichmay be basically of conventional struc ture, including a cabinet outershell 12 of suitable metal and a series of superimposed drawers 14, 16,18, and 20, slidably mounted in separate compartments therein.Obviously, any number of drawer sections may be employed as the occasiondemands. The inner walls of the cabinet are preferably provided with theusual insulation and fire proofing material, not shown, filling thespace between the outer and inner shells and completely surrounding thetop, rear and bottom walls of the cabinet. Each of the drawers is, asper usual, provided with a pull or handle 22 as also thumb latchcontrols 24 permitting the openingof individual drawers as willbeexplained ciated through shaft 28 with a combination lock mechanism 30of any conventional type.

The structural details of the shell of the cabinet are more clearly setforth in the above-mentioned copending patent applications but broadlyincludes a top shelf mem ber generally indicated at 32, having at itslower forward edge the usual angular offset portion 34 for coaction witha corresponding angular portion on the upper frame of the drawers.interposed between each 'of the drawers in the frame is an additionalshelf member 36 including angularly offset walls 38 forming rectangulargrooves or recesses to receive complimentaryv/alls bounding therespective drawer fronts, as will later appear. The shelves 32, 36,etc., together with the outer shell 12 of the cabinet provide aplurality of superimposed compartments adapted for receiving theplurality of superimposed drawers 14, 16, 18, and 20, etc.

1 As best seen in Fig.2 of the drawings, the front of each drawer isformed withan outer skin and a rear wardly spaced inner skin 42, joinedat top, bottom, and sides by a continuous web 44. This web 44 is of anirregular cross-sectional profile which coincides with the complimentaryprofile of the portions 34 of the shelves which bound the respectivedrawer receiving compartments of the cabinet, adjacent the drawerreceiving openings in the front thereof. Such a construction is more orless conventional in file cabinets of this type, to insure aninterlocking of the drawer front and cabinet opening when the drawer isclosed so as to effect a sealing radiallyextending crank arm 62 carry acylindrical stud fitting loosely in complementary openings in the camplate 56 so that as shaft 58 is rotated, the cam 56, being freelymounted on the sleeve 60,1'5 caused to rotate through the action of thekeyed crank arm 62. The cam plate 56 is preferably rectangular in shapeand can be provided are slidably supported in registering openings inthe sides of the drawers and are projectable and retractable intocomplementary recesses formed in the adjacent jamb frames of the drawerreceiving recesses of the cabinet. Thus, upon rotation of the cam plate56, the lock bolts are either engaged or disengaged with theirrespective 7 locking recesses.

formed as hereinbefore set forth are fire blocks 46 which are adapted toprevent heat from entering behind the rear face 42 of the drawer andgaining access to the contents of the drawer.

The lock mechanisms of the drawers are housed in the spaces between theouter skins 40 and inner skins 42 and can vary in specific structure.For the purpose of the present invention one practical form of lockingmechanism is illustrated in the drawings as an example only. Referringto Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the front wall of eachdrawer is provided with a vertically disposed locksupporting plate 43located intermediate the front and rear skins of the drawerfront. Theplate 48 is vertically supported by any desired means, such as shown forexample in the copending applications. In the upper drawer 14 the locksupporting plate 48 supports the combination lock mechanism 30, and isdrilled to receive the forwardly projecting operating shaft 28 whichextends through a suitable opening in the front skin of the drawer andwhich carries on its projecting end the combination dial 26. A laminatedprotecting shield is located immediately in front of the supportingstrip 48 and spaced therefrom by crossed strips 52 which, together withthe shield 50 are welded in place to afford an auxiliary protection tothe locking mechanism. A sleeve 54 encloses the shaft 28, whichpenetrates the shield 50, and this sleeve is preferably welded in placebetween the outer skin 40 and the protecting shield 50.

Immediately above the combination lock 30 in the front of drawer 14, isan operating cam plate 56, rotatably mounted on a forwardly projectingshaft 58, supported by the plate 48 and the front skin 40 of the'drawer.A similar protecting sleeve surrounds the shaft 58. The thumb latchcontrol 24 is fixed to the projecting outer end of shaft 58 and theinner end of the shaft and the sleeve 60 project through and extendbeyond the cam plate 56 as shown in Fig. 4. The inner end of shaft 58has secured thereto, preferably with a tapered fit, a radially extendingcrank arm 62. As pointed out in the copending applications, this taperedfit provides a clutch action on slippage, should undue force be appliedto the thumb latch control. As also shown in the copending applicationsabove referred to, the opposite ends of the Similar locking mechanismsare installed in each of the drawers of the series and all are under thecollective control of the master combination lock 30. To effect thiscollective control, the top drawer 14 is provided with a main actuatingrod 70 which is pivotally connected, being offset at its upper end, toone side of the cam plate 56 and is supported for vertical slidingmovement by any desired means, such as a bracket for example, in thelower portion of the drawer head. The rod 70 is preferably bent at rightangles so that its lower end is in abutting relation with the upper endof a spring pressed plunger, 72 slidably mounted in a supporting tube 74carried in the shelf member 36 as will appear in more detailhereinafter.

The previously described mechanism is shown and described in more detailin the above-mentioned copending applications and only sufficientstructure has been described herein to support a description andexplanation of the essence of the present invention together with itsoperation.

The shelf members broadly designated 36 include a rail 76 forming thetop of the compartment and connected to the lower portion of the rail byan overlapping reinforcement or splicing 78 is a shelf reinforcement 80extending horizontally, rearwardly. The shelf itself 82 connects theupper portiontof the rail to the rear horizontal portion of the shelfreinforcement. The various flanges utilized in the construction areadapted to prevent peening the shelf from the vertical plunger shaftcylinder.

The plunger 72 is housed, as .hereinbefore set forth in supporting tube74 which has an upper enlarged opening 84 and a lower enlarged opening86. Intermediate of and between the openings 84 and '86, the body of thesupporting tube 74 is drilled to substantially the exact dimension ofthe shaft 88 of the plunger. A pin or detent, 90 passes through theshaft in the region extending into'lower opening 90 and serves as apositive positioning detent for retaining the plunger in spring loadedcondition. The upper end or .head of the plunger 72 is peripherallyrecessed 'at 92 to provide a shoulder for engagement with a retractablerod as will be explained hereinafter.

head 92. As will appear hereinafter, this bolt is actuatable by a leverinto or out of engagement in the recessed head of the plunger.

Transverse lever 102 for actuating the bolt 98 is mounted'by means ofstud 104 attached to the" shelf reinforcement by means of a flange-likeconstruction; One end 106 of thetransverse lever engages with bolt 98 bymeans of hole 108 therein. The transverse lever engages the 'bolt forreciprocal movement and locking movement. The opposite end 110. of the'transverse lever is adapted to engage a vertical lever for reciprocalmovement and locking movement in a manner similar to that of the bolt.L-shaped construction. In: order to. retain the transverse lever inposition there is provided a unique spring 1-12 which is of spring wirebent around'the stud104-and seated in the recess 114, and ed'gewise uponitself at 116,- securing against the wall of the. shelf reinforcementand at the bent end engaging the transverse lever to provide resistanceto movement thereof This spring eliminates the use or necessity forextraneous means of retaining the lever in position, since being seatedin recess 114 rearward of the head of the stud 104.

At the opposite end 110 of transverse lever 102, the end closest to theleft side of the compartment when facing the cabinet, there is avertical lever 118 connected by means of a circular hole passing over.and around the reduced end 110 of the transverse lever. For mountingthe vertical lever, there is provided a vertical lever and actuatorbracket generally designated 122 and which is bent in two planes. Thisbracket consists of two arms, 124 and 126 bent at right angles to oneanother. The arm 124 has an edge 128 'bent at right angles thereto andin the direction of and over the arm 126. The arm 126 has an edge 130thereof bent at right angles thereto and in a direction away from thearm 124. This bracket is secured to the shelf reinforcement but not inengagement with the fire block as seen from Fig. 4 of the drawings. Bymeans of a centrally located hole in vertical lever 118 a stud 132centrally mounts and supports the vertical lever on the vertical leverand actuator bracket. A hairpin retainer spring or clip 134 coacts withstud 132 to retain lever 118 on the stud.

An actuator 136 is secured to the opposite end of vertical lever 118 bymeans of a rivet 138 or the like. As can be seen from Figs. 5 and 6 ofthe drawings, actuator bar 136 has a key hole slot formed therein at140. A shoulder rivet 142 slidably and pivotally mounts the actuator onthe edge 130 of vertical lever and actuator bracket 122. .It is to benoted that the actuator pivots and its end moves in a small are as wellas slides when moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 due to thefixed pivot point 132 of vertical lever 118, and the interconnection byrivet 138 of the end of actuator 136 and vertical lever 118. This issubstantially the same type of movement that occurs with respect to thetransverse lever and bolt 98.

The relationship of the positions of the actuator stud or fulcrum andthe vertical lever fulcrum is critical. For this reason the verticallever and actuator bracket has been devised as a single unitary piece ofmaterial in which the various fulcrums or fulcrum points can be presetbefore being attached to the remainder of the construction.

In operation, the present invention functions as follows. When all ofthe drawers in the file are closed, the shaft 88 of plunger 72 can beextended downwardly below the shelf against the spring action of spring144 normally biasing the plunger 72 to retracted position, due to themain actuating rod 70 having been depressed upon clockwise rotation ofthe cam plate 56. Under such circumstances, the plunger 72 acts as aconnect-ing link between the main actuating rod 70 and a second controlor actuating rod 146 in the drawer 16, next below. With this second rod146 depressed, counter-clockwise rotation of a lock cam 56a is preventedby engagement It'will be noted that transverselever 102 is of v of thebolt end with an'abutment thereon similar't'o' that" thumb latch control24 of the top drawer cannot be operated until the combination lock 30 isrelease'd a'nd the: corresponding thumb latch controls of the lowerdrawers cannot operate until the rods 146, etc., are'moved upwardly bythe release-of the'main actuatingrod 70- to clear the abutmentsfrom'the: paths-of the locking bolts.

When, however, by means of proper positioning of: thecombination lock30," the thumb latch controlsv are' freeto operate: and a drawerisopened, which is permitted by retraction: of. the spring: pressed:plungers to retracted: position within the shelf structure, release ofpressure' -bythe: rear face 1 48 of the drawer front on the end-ofactuator: 136' will permit: the actuator, verticaland transverse leversand bolt 98 to'assume: the position! shown? in Fig. 5 and plunger 72will be in retracted position.

Upon closing of the drawer, pressure of the rear face 148 of the drawerfront on the free end of actuator 136 will cause a rearward sliding ofactuator 136 as also a slight upward arcuate movement of the inner endfor reasons h'ereinbefore set forth. This pivots vertical lever 118clockwise in Fig. 6 which in turn slidably pivots transverse lever 102to thereby slidably retract bolt 98 in tube 94. This movement of bolt 98removes the end thereof from the peripheral recess 92 in the bolt topermit downward movement thereof under actuation of the main actuatingrod 70. Since it is not possible for the spring pressed plungers in thevarious drawers below the top one to be depressed into the positionshown in Fig. 6 until the bolts 98 have been released from theperipheral recesses 92, it will be apparent that each and every drawerin the entire stack assembly must be closed prior to locking the topdrawer of the vertical file.

The mechanism as described prevents the plungers from extendingdownwardly below the shelves when any drawer below the top one is pulledout and in order to permit locking of the top drawer each drawer mustfirst be closed so that the rear face of the drawer head through contactwith the actuator releases the bolts 98 from the respective recesses.

Also due to this construction, it will be apparent that no inadvertentlocking movement is permitted so that the individual plungers cannot besheared through closing of the drawers when the locked condition is ineffect.

Manifestly, minor changes in details of construction can be effectedwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention asdefined and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vertical file cabinet including a plurality of superimposed filedrawers separated by a plurality of shelves, severally operable ganglocking means including a lock plunger slidably mounted in each saiddrawer, control means commonly controlling operation of all said ganglocking means, a safety latch mechanism including means for preventingdownward extension of the gang lock plunger, a spring pressed plungervertically and slidably mounted in each said shelf, said plunger beingactuable by said gang lock plungers and being governed by said safetylatch mechanism to prevent extension of said spring pressed plungerbelow said shelves when one of said drawers is open, said spring pressedplunger having peripherally recessed heads, slidably mounted boltsadapted for extension into or retraction from the recesses in said headsand means connected to said bolts and coactable with the rear faces ofsaid drawers upon closure thereof to retract said bolts and permitdownward extension of said spring pressed plunger.

2. In a file cabinet as claimed in claim 1, said bolts having rightangled bends at the rearward ends thereof,

The

transverse levers connected to said bent bolt ends, studs pivotally andarcuately mounting said transverse levers, vertical levers connected tothe free ends of said transverse levers, fixed pivots for said verticallevers intermediate the ends thereof, and actuators slidably andarenately mounted and connected to the free ends of said vertical leversand coactable with the rear faces of the drawers to pivot said verticallevers, and said transverse levers to retract said bolts throughrotation of said bent ends thereon.

3. In a file cabinet as claimed in claim 2, vertical lever and actuatorbrackets mounting said vertical levers and said actuators, said bracketscomprising two arms at right angles to one another an edge of each saidarm being bent at right angles to the respective arm, pivot studs oneach said bent edge and respectively mounting said vertical levers andsaid actuators.

4. In a file cabinet as claimed in claim 3, said actuators havingelongated slots thereon slidably and pivotally engaging said actuatorpivot studs.

5. In a file cabinet as claimed in claim 4, springs carried on saidstuds mounting said transverse levers, said springs biasing said leversagainst turning movement of said bent ends on said bolts and resultanttranslational movement thereof.

- 6. In a file cabinet as claimed in claim 5, said studs t mounting saidtransverse levers, each having a peripheral recess spaced rearward frornthe head thereof, said springs being seated in and torsionally engagingsaid recesses and retaining said transverse levers in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

